Photos [Luke Hemmings]

Chapter 24 - Cheesy Shit Pt. 1

Chapter 24—Cheesy Shit Pt. 1

{ l u k e }

"Have a nice day," I smiled at the lady in front of me as she took her coffee from my hand. Once returning the smile, she turned and headed for the door of the cafe, just as it swung open and let the only face I'd love to see walk in. I straightened up, a smile quirking at my lips as Autumn entered Starbucks, her eyes meeting mine as she approached the counter. "Hi, babe."

"Hey," she greeted right back, leaving a short kiss on my awaiting lips as her eyes darted up to the overhanging menu out of habit before saying, "The usual, please."

I chuckled softly, already turning to prepare her tall caramel Brulée latte. Once I did so, I turned back around to hand Autumn her drink as she handed me the money, and I instantly noticed the way her lipstick-free lips were pursed and the light frown that scrunched her brows. "You okay?" I quirked an eyebrow as I put the money in the cash register.

"'M fine," Autumn shook her head in an attempt to be assuring, a small smile twitching on her lips. "Just a bit stressed, 's all."

I glanced at the clock on the wall to my left, leaning forward with me hands on top of the counter as I told Autumn, "My lunch break's in five minutes. Wanna talk about it?"

Her small, false smile widened a bit, appearing much more genuine now as she nodded once. "Yeah; sounds good."

I shot her an encouraging smile before she turned and went over to sit at a corner table by the window, just as another customer stepped up. Once the next five minutes were over and my coworker took over, I hung my apron before making my way over to where Autumn sat, scrolling through her phone as she took occasional sips from her drink.

"I'm all yours for the next hour," I spoke, catching her attention as I slid into the seat across from her, the small table separating us.

A light, breathy laugh escaped from Autumn's lips, her hazel eyes flickering up to meet mine before she let out a light groan and leaned back in her chair. I quirked an eyebrow, silently prompting her to speak, as Autumn made an annoyed expression. "I hate school. I hate school and I hate research papers—and I hate that Richard is in town and still driving me crazy in my mind even after I told myself it wasn't worth it because he has a wife and another daughter and he has no fucking right to be taking up so much of my mind when I could be using it to write a damn research paper. But there he is—sitting there like a little shit I'm probably never gonna get rid of."

She inhaled deeply after she finished, taking in the breath she had lost after speaking so much. I, on the other hand, had been listening intently as she launched into her rant, absorbing every word that fell from her lips in that rushed, stress induced tone of hers. Autumn let out a sigh, then, shoulders slumping forward because as she had gotten out all she needed to say, the defeated look dawned on her features, too. She was stressed and tired, and I didn't blame her for that.

"Auttie," I began, sitting on the edge of my chair as my hands went across the table and gripped hers, prompting her to let go of her drink. "It's understandable why you're feeling this way, babe. Finding out your dad has another family is, y'know, big. No one expects you to hold yourself together."

"But I do," she argued, distress flashing across her face before she blew out some air from her lips, head tilting down as she absentmindedly twisted the rings that were on my pinky and pointer fingers. "I expect myself not to feel so effected over this, y'know?" Autumn licked her lips, her eyes meeting mine as she continued. "I just—I thought I'd go to see him at lunch, hear what he'd have to say, and that'd be it. We'd be done and I'd hopefully wouldn't have to see him again. But he went and said he had a wife and another daughter and—I don't know. Makes me feel shitty."